I had the pleasure to chat with Tomorrow Peeples-Taylor last week. She is the Head Coach of the Boston Lions Track Club, a track club she started in 2018. More than thirty runners, ages 3-19, are part of the growing club. She is such an enthusiatic, high energy person and her coach talk so engrossing that I was nearly ready to do some 400 repeats!
The following is an excerpt of our discussion:
Boston Running Scene
How did you get your start in coaching?
Tomorrow Peeples-Taylor:
I had a childhood illness related to lead poisoning, which lead to lots of medicine and a doctor eventually recommending to my family that I should exercise. From that, my father fully supported the exercise regimen. A neighbor noticed my exercising with my father and recommended running.
My father went all-in, he taught himself about coaching track and field. From my father’s teachings, my brothers and sisters were set on a path of track. I have always loved track & field and running.
Boston Running Scene
Do you see (or have you seen) common elements in your most successful athletes?
Coach Peeples-Taylor
Parents are very important in the success of the athletes. The commitment and struggles the athletes will go through on their journey to success will need to be supported by the coaches AND the parents. If the athlete makes excuses and the parents relent, then coaching becomes difficult. But with the support of the parents, the athlete will be able to push through many barriers, because now they have my support and guidance, and they know their parents won’t let them off the hook. You cannot have parenting at odds with the coaching and expect positive results from the athletes.
If it doesn’t hurt, it doesn’t work. You can’t have superstar results with a backyard performance.
I keep the athletes responsible and accountable. Many parents have a lot on their plates so having an athlete that takes responsibility helps immensely.
Repetition can be a shock to some of our new runners. They haven’t grasped the concept of the hard work yet. I hear often about how fast someone’s kids are. And they might be, but when they encounter an athlete with some training, it can be deflating. But we lift them up and let them know, with hard work, they can get there too.
Boston Running Scene
What’s your view of the state of the sport?
Coach Peeples-Taylor
The opportunities for participation are much greater now than they were twenty years ago. Access to information through the internet (especially social media) has made the sport much more accessible than it was before.
Boston Running Scene
Talking training and technique, what worked twenty/forty years ago that still works today?
Hard work, repetition and a consistency mindset.
Boston Running Scene
Have the latest super shoes made their way into your age group athletes?
Coach Peeples-Taylor
No, they haven’t. Not yet
Boston Running Scene
What role does warm-ups and cool-downs play into your runners’ training?
Coach Peeples-Taylor
Warm ups and most importantly stretching is very important for the young runner.
There is no limit to the amount of stretching our athletes need or should be getting. I want them stretching and loosening up muscles almost right up until the gun goes off. Stretching and time for stretching – no limits, more is always better than less.
Boston Running Scene
Life skill (or happiness) question: what is the best advice you’ve ever received?
Coach Peeples-Taylor
If you want something different, you be different. Sacrifice to get what you want. And no pain, no gain. When they tell you no, you show them yes.
Coach Peeples-Taylor can be reached at BostonLionsTrackClub@gmail.com
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